VOA标准英语2010年-Gay Marriage Law Takes Effect in Washi

Same-sex couples can now legally marry in the Washington, D.C.. The U.S. capital's new law allowing homosexual couples to marry took effect Wednesday after much controversy¹.

Outside Washington's Superior Court House, members of the media congregated² to record the anger, even insults, but also the joy brought on by the first day of the gay marriage law in the nation's capital. "We feel the history of it, we do. We know this is a historic moment and we're glad of it. We're glad to be a part of it," said Candy Holmes, a supporter of the marriage law.

It is a day Darlene Garner³ and Candy Holmes thought would never come.  They met at church and have been together for 14 years.  They say everyone should have the right to marry.

"As citizens of this country we believe also in equality and justice for all. And now it also includes us," said Garner.

Tobey Slagenweit-Coffman and his partner also say this issue is about equality. "We've been together four years and it's wonderful that we're no longer completely second class citizens. We're one step closer to being one equal nation,"  said Slagenweit-Coffman.

Washington's city council in December approved a law legalizing same sex marriage.  Opponents say District of Columbia residents should have been able to vote on the issue.  But Chief Justice John Roberts of the U.S. Supreme⁴ Court rejected that argument.  He said the high court defers⁵ local issues to local courts in Washington.  And the local courts have refused a request for a referendum from the opponents.

Holmes says these protesters against gay marriage do not bother her. "We are recognizing that God is about love and marriage is about love and that's our focus," she said.

Reverend Rob Schenck, representing the National Clergy⁶ Council, opposes same sex marriage. "Marriage by universal moral codes that have been held for thousands of year by virtually every culture reserves the sanctity of a sexual relationship as between a man and a woman and that's just the fact we are architecturally built that way we're biochemically built that way, we're designed that way for pocreation," he said.

Same sex marriage is an issue that has divided the different denominations⁷ of Christians⁹.  Holmes and Garner also are Christian⁸ ministers.  They say their church has embraced them and now their commitment to each other is finally recognized by law. These Washington couples cannot get married on the same day they will apply for a license¹⁰. Under the law they have to wait three days before the court will issue them a marriage license.

The District of Columbia now joins five states -- Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont -- with a law legalizing same sex marriage.
 

1 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

2 congregated   

（使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The crowds congregated in the town square to hear the mayor speak. 人群聚集到市镇广场上来听市长讲话。
• People quickly congregated round the speaker. 人们迅速围拢在演说者的周围。

3 garner   

v.收藏；取得

参考例句：

• He has garnered extensive support for his proposals.他的提议得到了广泛的支持。
• Squirrels garner nuts for the winter.松鼠为过冬储存松果。

4 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

5 defers   

v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的第三人称单数 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从

参考例句：

• She never defers to her parents' opinions. 她从来不听从父母的意见。 来自辞典例句
• Even in Iraq, America defers to the elected government. 即使在伊拉克，美国也要遵从他的民选政府。 来自互联网

6 clergy   

n.[总称]牧师，神职人员

参考例句：

• I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
• All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

7 denominations   

n.宗派( denomination的名词复数 )；教派；面额；名称

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• The service was attended by Christians of all denominations. 这次礼拜仪式各教派的基督徒都参加了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

9 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

10 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。